Ski ensemble

ABSTRACT

A ski ensemble comprises a pair of ski tails upon which bindings are mounted and three pairs of ski tips, each pair of ski tips having different physical characteristics such as ski engaging surface area and flexibility. Each of the pairs of ski tips are selectively connectable to the pair of ski tails in order to assemble a pair of skis which are most appropriate for a particular snow condition. The ski tails and tips are connected by a double cam arrangement whereby the parts are cammed into locking and unlocking relationships. A convenient carrying case is provided to render the ensemble convenient for transporting and storage.

United States Patent 1111 3,801,1 17 Pierce Apr. 2, 1974 [54] ENSEMBLEFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Ward Pierce Vemo" 588,63211/1933 Germany 280/] 1.13 K

Country Club PL, Lookout Mountain C010 Primary Examiner-David Schonberg[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 Assistant ExaminerMilton L. Smith Attorney,Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion, [21] Appl. No.. 197,047 Zinn &Macpeak I [52] US. Cl. 280/11.13 K, 9/310 A, 224/45 S,

280/11.37 K, 287/20.924 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A63c /02 A k n em lecomprises a pair of ski tails upon [58] Field 0fSearch...280/ 1 1.13 K,1 1.13 T. 11.13 s, which bindings are mounted and three Pairs of skitips,

28()/] 1.13 F, 11.13 R, 11.37 C, l 1.37 E, each pair of ski tips havingdifferent physical charac- 1137 R, 11 37 224 5; 9/310 teristics such asski engaging surface area and flexibil- 2 7/20 924 ity. Each of thepairs of ski tips are selectively connectable to the pair of ski tailsin order to assemble a 5 R f en Ci pair of skis which are mostappropriate for a particular UNITED STATES PATENTS snow condition. Theski tails and tips are connected 2 224 897 12 1940 B 1 280 H 13 K by adouble cam arrangement whereby the parts are 3439928 411969 g gg f f Kcammed into locking and unlocking relationships. A 2234487 3/194, Dais280 C convenient carrying case is provided to render the enl:831:32611/1931 Silvest riii... 280/11:1 K semble convenient for transportingand storage. 2,198,361 4/1940 Altorfer 280/] 1.13 K 3,545,209 3 1951Meehan 280/] 1.13 K 'l gums 3,104,888 9/1963 Day et al 2 /1 1.13 K

PATENTEUAPR 2:914 3.801.117

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ATTCDRNEY PMENIEUAPR 21914 3.801.117

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I [\I E [\ITO R HOWARD H. PIERCE MJM ATTQRNEY SKI ENSEMBLE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The increase in popularity in the sport of skiing hasresulted in improvements in the basic ski equipment. The presentinvention is directed to such an improvement and more specifically toproviding a skier with a ski ensemble which can be carried in a handcase to the ski area so that a pair of skis can be assembled from theensemble which would provide the greatest skiing pleasure based on theparticular condition of the snow.

The prior art has taught using knock-down or disassembled skis primarilyto render the skis more convenient to transport. Examples of such priorart are the U.S. Pats. to Altorfer, No. 2,198,361; Burton et al, No.2,224,897; Meehan, No. 2,545,209; Day et al, No. 3,104,888; and KazuoNoguchi, No. 3,439,928. These patents disclose various structuralfeatures to permit assembling and disassembling a pair of skis. However,applicant is aware of no prior art which provides in one package thecapability of assembling skis which are suitable for powder snow,regular snow, or hard packed snow and ice.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of thepresent invention to provide a new and improved ski ensemble which ispackaged in a convenient carrying case and which includes multiple pairsof ski tips which are interchangeably connectable with a pair of skitails and which can be so assembled conveniently at the skiing site oncethe particular snow condition has been determined.

A further object of the present invention is to provide three pairs ofski tips which have different surface area and flexibility which can beconnected to a pair of ski tails through a convenient latching andunlatching mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved ski ensemble which includes connecting a pair of skitips to a pair of ski tails through the use of a double cammingmechanism where the ski parts are secured together in a structurallysound manner and which can likewise be disassembled through the cammingaction relatively easily regardless of the snow and ice on the skiparts.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detaileddescriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention described withreference to the accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of the ski ensemble according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing a ski tip in locking relationshipwith the ski tail;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 3;

F IG. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 5-5 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a ski tail and ski tip inan unlocked relationship;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ski ensemble according to thepresent invention mounted in a carrying case; and

FIG. 8 discloses a modified means for effecting connection of a ski tailand ski tip.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1 wherein three ski tips10, 12, and 14 are illustrated in conjunction with a single ski tail 16.The ski tips l0, l2, and 14 have different physical characteristics toaccommodate different snow conditions; and depending upon the particularsnow condition encountered by the skier, the appropriate one of the skitips can be readily connected to the ski tail 16. It should beappreciated that FIG. 1 discloses one half of the ski ensemble and thatduplicate tips corresponding to tips 10, 12, and 14 are provided toselectively connect with another ski tail similar to ski tail 16.

Ski tip 12 is designed to be more flexible and have a greater snowengaging surface than tips 10 and 14 as a comparison of the dimensionsA, B, X, and Y will indicate. Specifically, tip 12 has been designed forpowder snow and has the greatest dimension A and the smallest dimensionB of the tips. I-Ience, tip 12 will have greater surface area contact tothe snow and will be more flexible particularly about an axis transverseto the longitudinal axis of the assembled ski.

Ski tip 14 is provided for average or usual snow conditions and has adimension A smaller than tip 12 but larger than dimension A of tip 10.Likewise, dimension B of tip 14 is greater than dimension B of tip 12and less than dimension B of tip 10. Thus, tip 14 has less flexibilityand surface area than tip 12 but is more flexible and has more surfacearea than tip 10.

Tip 10 has been designed to accommodate hardpacked snow or iceconditions; and under such conditions, less flexibility and surface areais desired. Tip 10 has the smallest dimension A and the largestdimension B of the ski tips and is the narrowest such that in apreferred embodiment, dimension A of tip 10 equals dimension X, and thedimension B of tip 10 approximates dimension Y.

Ski tips 10, 12 and 14 are selectively connected with corresponding skitail 16 through cooperating means 20 (FIG. 2). Cooperating means 20includes a male part 22 extending integrally rearwardly from each skitip l0, l2, l4 and female part 24 (FIG. 3). The male member 22 istapered from front to rear as clearly shown in FIG. 1 and is adapted tomate with a similarly configured opening offemale part 24. The male part22 includes a reinforcing stainless steel plate 26 embedded in the skitip to provide strength to the male part 22. Female part 24 includes astainless steel reinforcing collar 28 embedded in the ski tail 16. Thecollar 28 reinforces the portion of the tail 16 which houses female part24 and also provides a reinforcing surface to which the bindings on thetail 16 can be secured by suitable screws.

The connecting means 20 further includes latching means 30 to latch andunlatch the ski tails and ski tips. The latching means 30 includes anactuating member 32 pivotally mounted to ski tips by member 34 toprovide for pivotal movement of member 32 about a longitudinal axisthrough member 34. The actuating member 32 has at one end a keeperengaging means 36 which includes a depending are shaped portion 38.

Depending arc shaped portion 38 is adapted to be disposed in a slot 40provided by a keeper 42 which is fixedly secured to the ski tails 16.Keeper 42 further includes spaced arc shaped opposed camming surfaces 44and 46 best shown in FIG. 6. Camming surfaces 44 and 46 define slot 40.Camming surface 44 cooperates with the rear surface 48 of the dependingare shaped portion 38 to effect locking of the ski tips and tail.Camming surface 46 cooperates with the opposite side 50 of the dependingare shaped portion 38 to positively unlock the ski tips and tail.

A selected ski tip is secured to the ski tail by positioning the malepart 22 of the tip into the female part 24 and moving the tip and tailtoward one another until the depending are shaped portion 38 is alignedwith slot 40. The skier then grips handle 52 of the actuating lever 32and pivots the actuating lever 32 such that surface 48 engages lockingsurface 44 of keeper 42 thereby camming the tail 16 into lockingrelationship with the selected ski tip. The depending arc shaped portion38 is configured as are surfaces 44 and 46 such that pivoting actuatingmember 32 in the opposite direction causes surface 50 to engage keepersurface 46 thereby moving the ski tail 16 away from ski tip 12 to effectunlocking of the parts. The actuating lever 32 is biased by spring means54 to maintain locking surfaces 48 and 44 in engagement during skiing.

The ski can be made of various materials or combinations of materialssuch as plastic and metal. Preferably the ski ensemble is made ofplastic with reinforcement provided by metal. FIG. discloses thepreferred construction of the ski tails 16. It should be appreciatedthat the ski tip 10, 12, 14 include the same features.

The skis comprise a metal shell 58, preferably aluminum, having steelangles 60 running lengthwise of shell 58. A plurality of epoxy tubes 62are secured interiorly of shell 58 and secured in place by plastic orwood foam 64 as best shown IN FIG. 5. The polyurethane material 66 isthen applied exteriorly to the shell 58 to complete the skiconstruction.

The ski ensemble described thus far is intended for use primarily withmodern type step-in ski bindings. However, the present invention hasapplication for the older cable bindings, and such an embodiment isdisclosed in FIG. 8. The same reference numerals have been used in FIG.8 to describe parts common to the ski configuration disclosed in FIGS. 1through 6. The main difference between the embodiment of FIG. 8 and thatof FIGS. 1 through 6 is eliminating in FIG. 8 securing means 20. In FIG.8 the securing means is the binding cable itself which includesconventional throw lever 70 mounted on ski tip 12. When the male andfemale members are inserted and the cable threaded about the heel of theboot, the lever 70 is moved downward to the position illustrated in FIG.8 which thus holds the ski tip 12 securely to the ski tail 16.

It also should be appreciated that various male and femaleconfigurations can be employed which would thereby increase the frictionsurfaces between the male and female parts; but for purposes of clarity,a simple tapered male member is disclosed in the preferred em-.bodiment.

The present invention further contemplates a convenient carrying case 74(FIG. 7) for storing and transporting the disassembled ski tails andtips. The case 74 includes body portions 78 and 80 which are engaged byconventional engaged means 82. A suitable lock 86 and handle 88 are alsoprovided. One of each of the ski tips l0, l2, and 14 along with one tail16 are stored in each of the body portions 78 and 80. Preferably, afalse bottom is provided in the body portion which has appropriatelyconfigured slots therein to receive the ski tips and tail so as to holdthem in the case 74. The ski tips 10, 12, and 14, ski tail l6, and bodyportion 78 are spaced relative to the corresponding tips and tail inbody portion so that when the body portions are brought together thetips and tails interleave to reduce the overall width of the carryingcase. Carrying case 74 can be constructed of any suitable material suchas one of the modern plastics.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A ski ensemble comprising a pair of ski tails, at least two pairs ofski tips, each pair of said tips having different dimensional andflexibility characteristics and being selectively connected to said pairof ski tails to provide at least two different pairs of skis, andcooperating latching means associated with said pairs of ski tips andski tails to connect given ones of said pairs of ski tips to said skitails, said ski tips each being provided with a male part constitutingan integral extension of said tip, said male part being rectangular incross section and spanning substantially the full width of the tipproper, said male part tapering inwardly vertically with respect to bothits upper and lower surfaces, each ski tail being provided at itsforward end with a female part having an opening therein of rectangularcross section and being correspondingly tapered to said male part so asto receive said male part with full surface contact therebetween.

2. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said pairs of skitips has a greater snow contacting surface than the other of said pair.

3. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 2 wherein said one pair of skitips includes means providing greater flexibility about an axistransverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembled ski than said otherpair of ski tips.

4. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 1 comprising three pairs of skitips, each of said pairs of ski tips differing from the other two pairsin snow contacting surface and degree of flexibility about an axistransverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski whereby a pair of skiscan be assembled which best suit a particular snow condition.

5. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 4 further including a carryingcase for said three pair of ski tips and said one pair of ski tails andhaving two body portions connected by hinge means, each of said bodyportions being of a size and configuration to accommodate three ski tipsand one ski tail, and latch means for securing said body portions in aclosed configuration to render the ski ensemble convenient to transportand store.

6. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said femaleparts includes a metal reinforcing collar.

7. A ski ensemble comprising a pair of ski tails adapted to receive skibindings, a pair of ski tips and cooperating means on the ski tails andthe ski tips to effect connection therebetween to provide adisconnectable pair of skis, said cooperating means including matingparts on said ski tips and ski tails including a male part constitutingan integral extension of said tip, said male part being rectangular incross section and of a width substantially equal to the width of the tiptop and having upper and lower surfaces tapering inwardly, and each skitail being provided with an opening within the end of the same facingsaid ski tip, said opening being rectangular in cross section and beingvertically tapered and correspondingly sized to said male part extensionto closely receive said male part with full contact between said malepart and the opening receiving the same, and securing means including anactuating member and a keeper on said ski tips and ski tails feet bypivoting of said actuating member about said vertical pivot axis,engagement and disengagement between said mating parts.

8. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 7 wherein said securing meansfurther including means biasing said actuating member in said onedirection.

9. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 7 wherein said keepers are mountedon said ski tails and said actuating member is mounted on said ski tips.

1. A ski ensemble comprising a pair of ski tails, at least two pairs ofski tips, each pair of said tips having different dimensional andflexibility characteristics and being selectively connected to said pairof ski tails to provide at least two different pairs of skis, andcooperating latching means associated with said pairs of ski tips andski tails to connect given ones of said pairs of ski tips to said skitails, said ski tips each being provided with a male part constitutingan integral extension of said tip, said male part being rectangular incross section and spanning substantially the full width of the tipproper, said male part tapering inwardly vertically with respect to bothits upper and lower surfaces, each ski tail being provided at itsforward end with a female part having an opening therein of rectangularcross section and being correspondingly tapered to said male part so asto receive said male part with full surface contact therebetween.
 2. Aski ensemble as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said pairs of ski tipshas a greater snow contacting surface than the other of said pair.
 3. Aski ensemble as defined in claim 2 wherein said one pair of ski tipsincludes means providing greater flexibility about an axis transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the assembled ski than said other pair of skitips.
 4. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 1 comprising three pairs ofski tips, each of said pairs of ski tips differing from the other twopairs in snow contacting surface and degree of flexibility about an axistransverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski whereby a pair of skiscan be assembled which best suit a particular snow condition.
 5. A skiensemble as defined in claim 4 further including a carrying case forsaid three pair of ski tips and said one pair of ski tails and havingtwo body portions connected by hinge means, each of said body portionsbeing of a size and configuration to accommodate three ski tips and oneski tail, and latch means for securing said body portions in a closedconfiguration to render the ski ensemble convenient to transport andstore.
 6. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 1 wherein each of saidfemale parts includes a metal reinforcing collar.
 7. A ski ensemblecomprising a pair of ski tails adapted to receive ski bindings, a pairof ski tips and cooperating means on the ski tails and the ski tips toeffect connection therebetween to provide a disconnectable pair of skis,said cooperating means including mating parts on said ski tips and skitails including a male part constituting an integral extension of saidtip, said male part being rectangular in cross section and of a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the tip top and having upper andlower surfaces tapering inwardly, and each ski tail being provided withan opening within the end of the same facing said ski tip, said openingbeing rectangular in cross section and being vertically tapered andcorrespondingly sized to said male part extension to closely receivesaid male part with full contact between said male part and the openingreceiving the same, and securing means including an actuating member anda keeper on said ski tips and ski tails for locking and unlocking saidski tips to said ski tails, said keeper having spaced, opposed lockingand unlocking surfaces defined by an arcuate slot opening verticallyupward and being concave in the direction of the other mating part, saidactuating member comprising a pivotable member mounted for pivotingabout a vertical axis and having a keeper engaging vertical projectingportion movable into the space between said surfaces and having opposedsurface portions selectively engageable with one or the other of saidsurfaces to effect by pivoting of said actuating member about saidvertical pivot axis, engagement and disengagement between said matingparts.
 8. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 7 wherein said securingmeans further including means biasing said actuating member in sAid onedirection.
 9. A ski ensemble as defined in claim 7 wherein said keepersare mounted on said ski tails and said actuating member is mounted onsaid ski tips.